CHARLIE Hodgson has been told to stake a claim for England’s fly-half position against the All Blacks in Auckland on June 14.

Danny Cipriani and Jonny Wilkinson – Hodgson’s principal rivals for the England number 10 shirt – will both miss the New Zealand tour after undergoing ankle and shoulder operations respectively.

And while England could still turn to either Olly Barkley or Toby Flood to step in, both players primarily play their club rugby at inside centre.

Sale star Hodgson, whose 30-cap Test career has been blighted by injury setbacks that underpinned him missing the last two World Cup campaigns, will start against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday.

Tour manager Rob Andrew said: “We want Charlie to play and stake a claim for being in contention for the first Test.”